Department for Transport

Bus Services: Cambridgeshire

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority relating to the withdrawal of some bus services in that area.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government regularly engages with bus operators and Local Transport Authorities regarding the provision of bus services in England. Departmental officials have been in contact with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to outline the support on offer from the Department to the Local Transport Authority regarding the withdrawal of bus services in the area and to understand how the Combined Authority intends to address this.

Heathrow Airport: Construction

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still support the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) was designated as government policy in June 2018 following a vote in the House of Commons. It sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest runway scheme at Heathrow Airport. The Government remains supportive of airport expansion where it can be delivered within our environmental obligations. The Government has always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers.

Aviation: Cost of Living

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the aviation industry due to the rising cost of living.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: UK aviation operates in the private sector and in a competitive environment. However, the Government is fully committed to supporting the industry, and we continue to actively engage with stakeholders to understand the challenges faced. The Government has published Flightpath to the Future, a strategy for the future of aviation, setting out a vision for the sector over the next ten years. The strategy, sets out a ten-point plan, establishing clear priorities to ensure the UK retains one of the strongest aviation sectors in the world.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what engagement they are they undertaking with the airline industry to cut emissions and meet long term sustainability targets.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for Transport engages regularly and widely with the airline industry, as with many stakeholders, regarding the decarbonisation of UK aviation. Delivery in partnership is a guiding principle of the Jet Zero Strategy, published in July 2022 to set out the Department’s approach for achieving net zero CO2 emissions from UK aviation by 2050. To support close collaboration between the Government and industry, the Jet Zero Council was established in 2020. The Council brings together senior leaders in aviation, aerospace and academia to drive the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.

Motorways

Lord Bradshaw: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, tomake upgrades to smart motorways.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We have paused the rollout of new smart motorways to collect more safety and economic data to make informed decisions on next steps.